Vietnam, Chile seek stronger comprehensive partnership

President Tran Dai Quang (R) and President Michelle Bachelet Jeria at the ceremony of signing joint statement (Photo VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The Presidents of
Vietnam and Chile have shared with the press that they discussed measures to
enhance the bilateral comprehensive cooperation in politics, diplomacy,
economics, trade and investment during their fresh talks in Hanoi.

Vietnam’s President Tran Dai Quang and Chile’s
President Michelle Bachelet Jeria met with the press in the capital on November
9 following their talks.

Quang said priority will be given to tapping
potentials and strengths of the two sides in agro-forestry-fishery,
construction, biotechnology, mining, climate change adaptation, culture,
science-technology, education-training, and tourism.

He hailed the signing of bilateral cooperation
agreements on external affairs on the occasion of the Chilean President’s
State-level visit to Vietnam from November 8-9.

He thanked the Chilean President and Government
for actively promoting the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on taking
care of children, especially the Agent Orange (AO)/Dioxin victims in Vietnam,
as well as supporting Vietnam’s candidacy to the UN Security Council in the
2020-2021 tenure and its hosting of the APEC Year 2017, including the APEC
Economic Leaders’ Week in Da Nang.

At the talks, the leaders deal with regional and
international issues of mutual concerns and shared the viewpoint on addressing
sovereignty disputes via peaceful means based on international law, including
the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and
diplomatic and legal processes, he added.

Jeria highlighted the significance of the
bilateral free trade agreement which came into force from 2014, making Vietnam
one of the biggest trade partners of Chile.

The two countries have also gained important
achievements in studying and applying technologies relating to rice cultivation
to promote food production in Chile.

The MoU on cooperation in the field of children
and adolescents is extremely important to Chile and marks the strong
commitments of the two countries to child protection, especially those
seriously affected by Agent Orange/Dioxin, she said.

The President took this occasion to thank
Vietnam for supporting Chile to join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast
Asia (TAC), affirming Chile’s desire to become a dialogue partner of the ASEAN
Regional Forum (ARF) to share experience in ensuring security in the Asia-Pacific
region.

Before the press conference, the Presidents
signed a joint statement and witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation
agreements, including a MoU on cooperation in the field of children and
adolescents; an agreement on income activities for relatives of diplomats,
employees of consulates, representative offices and international
organisations; and a MoU on cooperation between the two countries’ academies of
diplomacy.-VNA